Battery container and polarizing terminal means therefor



May 2, 1961 E. E. DAssow ET AL BATTERY CONTAINER AND POLARIZING TERMINAL MEANS THEREFOR Filed OGb. 8, 1957 EDGAR E. DASSOW ARNOLD 7.' TORGE'RSO/V BY 17/ K/ 071%/ INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Unite States Patent-O1 BATTERY CONTAINER AND POLARIZING TERMINAL MEANS THEREFOR Edgar E. Dassow and Arnold T. Torgerson, Madison, Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Electric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 8, 1957, Ser. No. 688,991

4 Claims. (Cl. 136-173) 'Ihis invention relates toa battery container and polarizing terminal means therefor. More specioally, this invention relates to a container fora dry cell battery and is provided with terminal means adapted to engage and to derive current from said battery. 'I'he terminal means provided distinguishes between the shapes of the center terminal and the bottom terminal of the battery, and engages them selectively whereby regardless of the way in which the batteries lare installed the leads from said container are invariably of the proper polarity.

With the development of electronic devices designed for use by the layman and for use with ordinary dry cell batteries, certain problems have arisen. One problem in this area is that for proper function modern electronic equipment using such devices as transistors must be powered by an electric source with its proper polarity oonnected appropriately into the electronic circuit. The ordinary user of one of these modern devices such as a transistor radio is oftentimes not familiar enough with electricity to install properly such power source in the equipment. In other words, the transistor set owner is often unaware of the fact that the center terminal of an ordinary dry cell is positive While the bottom terminal carries a negative charge. Thus, he is -apt to get the battery in backwards, Iand the set, as a result, will not function properly. f

To meet `this problem, the present invention provides a battery container adapted for use with transistor radios and the like, said container in combination with terminal means of certain shape to engage selectively the terminals of a dry cell battery no matter which way the battery is installed. By means of a simple wiring circuit old in the art (see U.S. Patent 2,293,354 to Munchow, issued August 18, 1942), the terminal means is connected appropriately into the transistor radio circuit. Thus, it is immaterial whether the person who installs a new set of dry cell batteries into the device installs them in the correct direction. f

While the general idea of polarizing terminal means and a battery box in combination therewith has been `claimed and disclosed in the prior art, the old devices do not provide suflicient spring mounting means to meet the rough treatment to which modern electric portable 'de- Vvices are subject. Also, the prior `art devices are not readily adapted for use in modern electronic equipment since their batteries are not serviceable from without the radio case. Also devices lof the prior art are not formed with water-tight or moistureproof constructions to meet reequipment so that the interior of the equipment'need not' be opened to install new batteries. a

It is another object of this invention 'to provide a battery holder havingfpolarizing terminal means Which Y'is 2,982,807` Patented May 2, 1961 ice shocks to which modern portable electronic equipment is subject and -at the same time to provide good electrical contact between said terminal and the batteries.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a battery container having polarizing terminal means therein'and having moistureproof construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a battery holder having a polarizing terminal in combination therewith, said battery container being unusually compact and sturdy.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and 'arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an enlarged elevational view partly in section showing the device in usewith a dry cell battery in phantom and showing the polarizing terminal means exposed;

Fig. 2 is a reduced sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; f

Fig. 5 is a reduced exploded view showing the assembly of a portion of the polarizing terminal means and the upper portion of the battery container; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view on reduced scale.

Briefly, the invention includes the combination of a tubular battery container having one closed'end and one open end, the latter adapted to be closed by a closure means. In the closed end is provided a polarizing terminal which is spring mounted. It includes a rectangular bottom terminal contact having struck-up corners adapted to engage only the bottom terminal of the battery; 4and a headed center terminal contact piece disposed centrally in the bottom terminal contact but insulated therefrom. The inside wall of the closure member carries a second polarizing terminal comprising a button disposed centrally in the closure member and adapted to engage only the center terminal of the battery and fingers about the head and insulated therefrom and adapted to engage only the bottom terminal of the battery. From the polarizing tertogether electrically respectively.

Referring more speciiically to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows my container ydesignated generally as10. It comprises a tubular 'member y'12 recessed about one end 14 and receiving there in fixed bond an end cap 16 closing the end. At the opposite. end the tubular member 12 is coarsely threaded ginteriorly in the area 18. Into this threaded area isv adaptedto be received a correspondingly threaded closure member 20. The closure member is formed with an outwardly extending flange 22, the upper surface of the flange forming a shoulder which abuts the circular end of the tubular member when the closure member 20 is installed.

The tubular member 12, the end cap 16, and the closure member 20 are all preferably molded from a rigid plastic. f f

. Mounted at the .top of the tubular member on the in-y side wall of end cap 16 is a polarizing terminal 24. It is associated electrically with a polarizing counterpart 26 on the inside wallv of the closure member 20. Referring more specifically to the structure ofthe polalizing termispring mounted to allow the device to absorb mechanical nal 24,'it comprises, as shown in Figs. 4 Iand 5, arectan- `gular bottom terminal contact piece 28 having its corners 30 struck over to form sharp battery engaging contacts. The ends of these contacts are sharp enough to contact under the .pressure .of a spring 32 on which the .device is mounted, the bottom terminal B of a dry cell battery through any oxide or other non-conductive material which might have formed thereon. The rectangular bottom terminal contact Vpiece 28 has an aperture 34 `at its center point. Forming a center terminal contact piece v36 is a grommet member having a head 38, an abutting face 40 adapted to contact the center terminal C o-f a battery, and a reduced neck portion 42. The piece 36 is of metal. insulating washers 44 and 46, the inner apertures of which tsnugly about the reduced neck portion 42 of the grommetare provided one on either side of the rectangular bottom terminal-contact piece 28. The aperture 34in the bottom contact terminal piece 2S is slightly larger than the aperture in either of the washers 44 or 46 and Vthe bent-over corners 30 are so spaced as to Vimpinge on the outer periphery of the washer 44. Thus, the washer 44 serves as a spacer member to keep the metallic reduced neck 42 of the grommet spaced from the bottom terminal contact piece 28 and electrically insulated therefrom. The metal spring 32 which mounts the .assembly is of ysubstantially conical shape and terminates in a central eye 48 which fits over the end of the reduced .neck 42 of the grommet. Completing and securing the assembly, the excess metal 50 of the grommet is crimped over the eye 48 in the spring member 32.

As is sho-wn in Fig. l, the-closed end wall of the end cap 16 has apertures 52 and 54 `at diametrically opposed points, the apertures receiving respectively -a pair of rivets 56 and 58. The rivet 56 passes through the aperture in a lug. 6.0 on the .end of a wire 69 adapted tol carry power away froml the container. On the inside of the container the rivetextends through the aperture in a second lug 62 on the end of a wire 62 extending through cap 16, kand Vthrough a second end eye 64 in the center terminal spring 32 (see Fig. 5). Thus, the charge Vimparted to the contact piece 36 .passes through the spring 32 `and Vto various Wlres.

The rivet 58 passes through an aperture in a lug66 on a wire 66 also adapted .to carryY away power tothe device with which the container is used. On the inside of the container the rivet 58 passes through an aperture in a lug 68 on a wire 68. The rivet 58 also passes through an aperture in a lug 70 on the end ofa wire 70', the opposite end of which is soldered to the bottom terminal contact piece 28 (see Fig. l).

The wires 62 and 68 extend longitudinally of they container in diametrically opposed relation and are held securely thereto respectively by two pairs of appropri- .latelyV spaced plastic runners v72 (see Fig. 2). r[lhe runners 72 are molded in the side of the fmember` 12 and each .pair present a pair of longitudinally running lips 74 Vinto which the respective Wires are received in snapinstallation. Near the open endof the container the wires terminate in lugs 76 and 78 suitably aperturedwandrreceiving respectively rivets Sii and 2 which extend through appropriate openings 84 and 86 atdiametrically opposed points in the case. near Jthe threaded area'V 1S. 'lhe rivets each have two heads; .one on the outside `of the container and `one on the inside/the latter 88 and 9@ being ina recessed portion of the threaded areavlS. The rivets are, ofcourse,

sure member. The' centerterrninal button 92, the angular extension 94, and the arm 96 are of Yone'metal stamping fandV are secured to the inner face of the closuremember -by a rivet 9S.' v.The spring arm96 is raisedslightly above vvthe innensurface of .theclosure member 2t? (seeFig. 17)

so that it makes spring contact with :an electric stud comprising the inner head 38 of the rivet 80. Adapted to contact the bottom terminal of a dry cell battery are the upwardly extending lingers 100i disposed in the closure member 20 on opposite sides of the button 92. The iingers 160 extend upwardly from a base plate 102 of substantially U-shape secured to the closure member 20 by rivet 104 and having extending therefrom a second spring arm 106 similar in contiguration to the first spring arm 9,6 and disposed about the side of the closure member 20. The spring arm 106 similar to Spring arm 96 is bent slightly upward away from the closure member 20 to resiliently engage the electric stud comprising the inner head of the rivet 82.

The threaded area 18 in the open end of the tubular container and the threaded area of the closure member 20 each have only one thread so that when the closure member is turned home the spring contact `arms 76 and 106 can only respectively contact the studs 88 and 90. Thus, there is no chance of reversing the contacts 92 and 10i) of the closure member 20'which must be connected electrically respectively to contact members 36 and 30; To `facilitate turning the closure member home, the outer end thereof is recessed ycylindrically and a diametrically disposed turning web 168 is rigidly provided therein.

The operation of the combined battery container and depolarizing terminal of the invention will be obvious from the drawings. When it is associated with electronic equipment, the container of the invention has the closure member 20 in the wall of the equipment so that batteries can be replaced from outside the equipment, Tubular .member 12 extends Within the equipment. To installnew batteries, it is merely necessary to remove the end closure .20 by unscrewing it and to -insert the new battery with Ycells all facing the same direction. If the battery is put bottom end iirst, the bottom end contact B will abut the ends of the struck up corners 30 and make electrical con- .tact therewith. A negative charge will then exist in the wires '70 and 66. because the headed member 36 does not extend out as farrrthevpoints 80. After'the last battery isinstalled, the

closure member may be inserted and screwed home. Thev center terminal C of the last battery will contact the button 92. The `lingers -106 will make contact with no part lof the battery `as the height of the center terminal C of the battery is suiicient to space the remainder of the battery :away from the fingers. The button 92-will thus `be imparted the positive charge of the center terminal `C-and the charge will be carried through the angular extension 94 through spring arm 92 through the electric stud 88 to the wire 62 and 60 and ultimately to the powered equipment.

home.` Button 92 will not touch the battery.` The fingers .t will receive anegative charge which will be in turn supplied through the U-shapedmember 102 through spring arm 106 fand through the electric stud 90 to the wires 68 and 66 and ultimately to the power source.

As a result of the structure of the present invention, no matter which way the battery is'installed vin the container 1l) wire 60' will always carry the charge of the center terminal and wire 66 will always carry the charge of the bottom terminal of theV dry cell battery. `While hereabov'e it has been vconsidered'that'the center terminal is positive and the bottom rterminal is negative,thus Y making wire 66 positive and wire 66` negative, obviously `if the internal arrangement of the battery is reversed re- Head 40 will not contact the battery of the wires 60' and 66. More obviously, a change in nomenclature of the polarity of the battery terminals will result in the expected change in the nomenclature of the polarity of the wires 60 and 66".

The present invention will be invaluable when used with modern portable electronic equipment. The provision of the single end access with threaded closure not only makes the batteries readily vaccessible from without the electronic equipment if installed as described above, but also insures moistureproof disposition of the batteries. The device is designed to withstand `great mechanical shocks and sti-ll keep contact with the battery terminals by virtue of the spring mounting 32 of the polarizing means.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art, that yit is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

We claim:

1. A battery enclosure and polarizer comprising a watertight tubular container having one end wall that is iixedly mounted and'one end wall that is removable, said container being adapted to house a dry cell battery, a coil spring extending along the axis of the container and having one of its ends secured to one end wall of said container, a first polarizing terminal secured to the distal end of said coil spring and facing the other end wall of the container, said polarizing terminal including a bottomterminal-contact piece comprising a plate having an opening therein and at least one upstanding corner directed toward the said other end of the container, and a centerterminal-contact piece comprising a metallic head and a neck passing through the opening in said plate in a direction toward the said one end wall and engaging said coil spring, said bottom-terminal-contact piece and said centerterminal-contact piece being electrically insulated from each other by a washer surrounding said neck between the head and the plate, the distal end of said corner extending beyond said head in a direction toward the said other end Wall; a second polarizing terminal being mounted on the said other end wall and comprising a center-terminal-contact button disposed centrally of the said other end wall and a bottom-terminal-contact linger disposed eccentrically of the said other end wall and extending in a direction toward the said one end Wall beyond said button, said button and said finger beingl electrically insulated from each other, a pair of fixed radially inward extending studs secured to the tubular wall of the container adjacent the removable end wall thereof, a pair of spring contact arms mountedon said removable vend wall and having portions spaced in a direction toward the tixedly mounted end wall from said removable end wall, means connecting electrically said spring arms respectively to the terminal contact means of the polarizing terminal mounted on the removable end wall and means electrically connecting said studs respectively to the terminal contact means of the polarizing terminal mounted on the xedly mounted end wall, whereby when the removable wall is installed in the end of said tubular container the spring arms Ybutt against said studs respectively in a v direction axial ofV said container to establish sure electrical circuit between the corner and the ringer and` between the head and the button respectively to polarize *suchV dry cell battery within the centaine 2. A battery enclosure and polarizer comprising a watertight tubular container having one end wall that is iixedly mounted .and one end wall that is removable, said container being adapted to house a dry cell battery, a coil spring extending along the axis of the container and having one of its ends secured to the lixedly mounted end wall of said container, a iirst polarizing terminal secured to the distal end of said coil spring and facing the removable end wall of the container, said polarizing terminal including a bottom-terminal-contact piece comprising a plate having an opening therein and at least one upstanding corner ydirected toward the said removable end wall of the container, and a center-terminal-contact piece comprising a metallic head and a neck passing through the opening in said plate in a direction toward said iixed end wall and engaging said coil spring, said bottom-terminal-contact piece and said center-terminalecontact piece being electrically insulated from each other by a washer surrounding said neck between the head and the plate, the distal end of said corner extending beyond said head in a direction toward said removable end wall; a second polarizing terminal being mounted on the removable end wall and comprising a center-terminal-contact button disposed centrally of the removable end wall, and a bottomterminal-contact finger disposed eccentrically of the removable end Wall and extending in a direction toward said xedly mounted end wall beyond said button, said button and said iinger being electrically insulated from each other, a pair of xed radially inward extending studs secured to the tubular wall of the container adjacent the removable end wall thereof, a pair of spring contact arms mounted on said removable end wall and having portions spaced in a direction toward the xedly mounted end wall from said removable end wall, means connecting electrically said spring arm respectively to said button and said finger, and means connecting electrically said studs respectively to said head and said corner, whereby when the removable wall is installed in the end of said tubular container the spring arms butt against said studs respectively in a direction axial of said container to establish sure electrical circuit between the corner and the dinger and between the head and the button respectively to polarize such dry cell battery within the container.

3. A battery enclosure and polarizer as described in claim 2` wherein the tubular wall of said container is formed with a pair of side-by-side resilient runners extending longitudinally of said container and said means connecting electrically said studs respectively to said head and said corner comprises an elongated metallic member held in snap installation between'said runners.

4. A battery lenclosure and polarizer as described in claim 2 wherein said removable end wall is exteriorly threaded vand the tubular Wall of said container is interiorlythreaded and said removable end wall in installation threadedly engages in said tubular wall.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITEDV` STATES PATENTS Dyer Sept. 30, '1952 

